Men need more help, says mother whose son commit suicide
The mother of a man who killed himself at home believes more needs to be done to prevent men committing suicide.
Ronald Jason Pond, 47, was found dead in his home at Cambrian Terrace, Llansantffraid on July 6.
His inquest was held on Friday at Welshpool Magistrates Court where coroner Andrew Barkley returned a conclusion of suicide.
The inquest heard how Mr Pond had suffered from depression and had been seen by a mental health team and a psychiatrist in the days leading up to his death.
Mr Pond’s mother Pam attended the inquest, and believes more needs to be done to tackle the problem.
She said: “Our family on my mother’s side had nine people with mental health problems and I was one of them.
“He told me in the days before he felt like he had a blanket over his head.
“Something is wrong in the system and something needs to be done about this because too many young men are doing this.
“My question is – is enough being done?
“I am speaking about across the country, I think the system is just wrong.”
The inquest heard how Mr Pond had sought help from his GP in June, who had urgently referred him to a mental health team.
He was then referred on to see a psychiatrist, who said Mr Pond had a low mood and had expressed the view that his family would be “better off without him”.
Giving evidence, Dr William Henderson said that despite this, there were no plans made by Mr Pond to commit suicide, and he was deemed at a low risk.
He was prescribed with anti-depressants, and family members asked whether these could have led to increased suicidal thoughts.
However Dr Henderson that could only happen with people under 25, and not with someone of Mr Pond’s age.
Mr Pond’s ex-wife Tara told the court that her former husband was a ‘placid and lovely man,’ and she explained she had been with him the evening before he died.
